adb_start_app
Start Android applications on connected devices by specifying package names, enabling automated app launching for testing and management workflows.
Instructions
Start an app on the device
Input Schema
TableJSON Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| packageName | Yes | Package name of the app to start | |
| activityName | No | Activity name (optional) | |
| deviceId | No | Device ID (optional) |
Implementation Reference
- src/tools/app.ts:79-123 (handler)The startApp method in AppTools class implements the core logic for the adb_start_app tool. It checks device connectivity, constructs the appropriate ADB shell command (am start or monkey), executes it via AdbClient, and returns success/error details.
async startApp(packageName: string, activityName?: string, deviceId?: string) { try { const connected = await this.adbClient.isDeviceConnected(deviceId); if (!connected) { return { success: false, error: 'Device not connected', message: 'Cannot start app - device is not connected' }; } let command: string; if (activityName) { command = `shell am start -n ${packageName}/${activityName}`; } else { command = `shell monkey -p ${packageName} -c android.intent.category.LAUNCHER 1`; } const result = await this.adbClient.executeCommand(command, deviceId); if (!result.success) { return { success: false, error: result.error, message: 'Failed to start app' }; } return { success: true, data: { packageName, activityName, deviceId: deviceId || this.adbClient.getDefaultDevice() }, message: `App ${packageName} started successfully` }; } catch (error: any) { return { success: false, error: error.message, message: 'Failed to start app' }; } } - src/index.ts:238-257 (schema)Input schema definition for the adb_start_app tool in the ListTools response, defining parameters: packageName (required), activityName and deviceId (optional).
name: 'adb_start_app', description: 'Start an app on the device', inputSchema: { type: 'object', properties: { packageName: { type: 'string', description: 'Package name of the app to start', }, activityName: { type: 'string', description: 'Activity name (optional)', }, deviceId: { type: 'string', description: 'Device ID (optional)', }, }, required: ['packageName'], }, - src/index.ts:457-458 (registration)Registration and dispatch in the CallToolRequest handler switch statement, mapping 'adb_start_app' calls to this.appTools.startApp method.
case 'adb_start_app': return await this.handleToolCall(this.appTools.startApp(args?.packageName as string, args?.activityName as string, args?.deviceId as string)); - src/index.ts:39-39 (registration)Instantiation of AppTools class instance used for app-related tools including startApp.
this.appTools = new AppTools(this.adbClient);